Evolution is the movement of energy toward a higher expression or manifestation
of a higher complex structure. Energy is always kinetic, though it may appear
at times to be static or potential; it is constantly in movement, ceaselessly
forming and transforming its structure into something that it was not before.
Thus, whatever appears as form, as an energy-structure, is always in a state
of flux or becoming. This may not be apparent outwardly to the senses, but
it is inherently so in the atomic and subatomic levels. This becoming may
result in an improvement or degradation of what it was before. Nature always
work along the lines of evolution, even if degradation or involution seems
to be evident. This is the mystery of the principle of Shiva, the destroyer,
working to break things down so that a new cycle of growth may be implemented
by Brahma, or the creative principle. Vishnu is the stabilizer principle.
This principle maintains the creative expression until its purpose or mission
has been attained or fulfilled, it then devolves its work to the Shivaic
principle of destruction. The Shivaic principle is catabolic while the Brahmic
principle is anabolic. The process may be illustrated thus:

Being (The Absolute)
Motion
Change or Becoming

Brahma (Creation)

Vishnu (Preservation)

Shiva (Destruction)

Evolution

Evolution may be considered from the physical or metaphysical aspect. In
occult circles, it is often customary to consider man's growth from the
metaphysical or spiritual standpoint. Man as a microcosm possesses various
components in his holistic being, and each component or aspect is constantly
being transmuted to a higher or lower expression--to a more refined or coarse
state, to a higher or a lower vibration, to a more sublime or degraded condition.
Above we said that Nature always work along the lines of evolution even if
degradation seems apparent. This also applies to human beings. We may sometimes
cause ourselves to temporarily retrograde by being periodically despondent,
depressed and negative; however, this should be a period of introspection
in order to build a new condition of value, to reinforce our spiritual connection
with our Source; still, the problem is that some would sustain this state
of retrogression, the status quo, and not bounce back to a balanced condition,
or to be centered in one's spiritual nature. This is opposing the natural
evolutionary current. Those that cooperate with Nature will evolve much more
quickly than those who oppose her. It is like swimming against the current.
How do we cooperate with Nature? By first knowing and understanding her laws
and how they may be implemented; by being aware of her forces and how they
may be harnessed and applied creatively; by knowing how to align oneself
with the higher purpose of being.

All of the kingdoms of nature with the "exceptions" of the kingdom of human
beings and the other higher kingdoms have external agencies and Intelligences
directing their evolutionary growth. Animals, for instance, do not have conscious
control over their soul-growth, they are dependent upon the creative Intelligence
called "group-spirits" in the direction of their evolution and the tending
after their welfare. In spiritual parlance we call these group-spirits, "angels."
That angels are behind the innate intelligence of animals may possibly be
ridiculed by orthodox science, however, from metaphysical investigations
this is indeed a fact. It often surprises us, even to non-animal lovers,
of the intelligence and creativity displayed by God's creatures. That animals
are controlled, directed, taught, or inspired by angelic agencies may explain
the phenomenon of the "100th Monkey Syndrome." It has been observed that
even though a creature be separated by miles of water from members of its
species, when it learns something new this new information is somehow relayed
to these other members living elsewhere. This could be explained by animal
telepathy, however, the angelic guardian theory is equally valid.

Unlike animals and the nature spirits, or the creatures of the etheric and
astral realms, human beings may well personally participate and cooperate
with Nature in accelerating their evolutionary growth should they desire
to do so. In fact personal participation is advisable because even though
we actually live in an eternal, timeless state, and "lots of time" to evolve,
there is a cosmic timetable that we should deeply consider. This can be compared
to the situation that we have in our educational system. We can progress
from level to level according to the educational plan and ultimately fit
ourselves in society, or we can stay back year after year at the same level
without any personal development or the desire to progress. In the latter
situation we cause our growth to be stagnated; on the other hand, if we work
hard enough, we would progress and mature in concordance with the system.

The above illustration applies to our present world situation. We are spiritually
at the brink of the closing of a certain cosmic timetable--a certain planetary
and solar cycle. If we do not accelerate our consciousness, uplift our spirits,
raise our vibrations and frequency, express our divinity, evolve the components
constituting our microcosmic being, and liberate ourselves from the entrapment
of matter, then we may find ourselves ousted from the progressive wave of
humanity and directed to stay in a cosmic situation that would probably cause
some psychological torture. Concisely, we become spiritual laggards if we
do not evolve with our spiritual group. In the closing cycle, if we spiritually
progress we enter into the "Kingdom of the Gods." If we lag behind in
consciousness and spirituality, we would not follow the progressive ones
but maintain our pathetic condition in the Kingdom of Human Beings, and perhaps
not on this planet. The spiritual harvest mentioned in Holy Writ will indeed
take place. In the Scriptures we are told that there would be a separation
between goats and sheep, between wheat and weeds. Scientifically, there would
be a radical "natural selection" in the near-future based upon soul-frequency.
Those vibrating at a frequency-range above the specified level would be "saved."
Conversely, those vibrating below the specified level would not make the
grade.

Why are we on Earth, and why on earth are we here? Evolution is an eternal
creative Cosmic law. It is a creative expression of Being--or at our level--truly
being what we are. This applies to all entities or Intelligences of the
omniverse. Evolution, therefore, is God's plan and purpose for us all. Flowing
with the evolutionary current reveals more and more of what we are and our
relationship with the Whole, with the One, with All That Is. This is the
reason why man incarnated in the physical plane. Humanity is here to evolve
their Divine Self-awareness, their rememberance of who they really are, and
quicken their sense of oneness with the illusory, fragmentary parts of the
Whole.

Because of the resistance and inertia of matter, the physical plane offers
a unique platform in assisting and quickening soul-growth. One would not
evolve as quickly in the higher dimensions as one would in the physical realm,
for in the higher dimensions time and space are non-existent, and astral
substance is easily moldable by the mind and the will. In the higher realms
there is no struggle or effort needed to exist and subsist, hence, not much
unfoldment of divine qualities that would evolve the soul. It is different
in the physical dimension. Here we must be active in supporting and maintaining
life, in establishing ourselves in the world, in producing values that would
improve mundane conditions, in manifesting heaven on earth. Such tasks unfold
the many divine characteristics lying dormant or latent in our soul-being.
Our spiritual task is not solely to free ourselves from karma or to liberate
ourselves from the wheel of reincarnation, for at one time we were free from
those two conditions and the ties of the lower worlds, and yet, we "fell"
and descended into the physical world. Why was this done? What purpose did
we have for doing this?

The majority of human beings are lost in the waves and turmoil of life. They
live aimless lives like automatons, or like those vegetating in a comatose
state. Their actions are automatic and reactive with very little conscious
direction. Thus they do not participate or are desireless in the acceleration
of their personal evolution. They are dependent upon "authority" figures
that promise "the easy way" for their personal well-being. They accept all
input coming from these authorities without first screening them with the
rational mind. Beliefs and dogmas are accepted over facts and truths. This
is subconscious conditioning or brain-washing and it de-empowers an individual.
It is rather difficult for a person under such a condition to be aware of
what is actually occurring to him. When faced with the truth these individuals
get overly-defensive and would do anything in their power to stifle truth
by destroying its promulgators. These individuals become fanatics and are
often a danger to themselves and to society.

The subconscious mind seems to be a strong influence in most people. This
subconscious preponderance, or the mind functioning in this particular mode
whereby it is controlled by subconscious impulses is identified as "the bicameral
mind" by Dr. Julian Jaynes in his book, "The Origin of Consciousness in the
Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind."

Spiritually, it is the conscious mind that has to be in control and the director
of one's life and not be enslaved by negative subconscious urges. Our conscious
mind must, however, be attuned with the superconsciousness in order to acquire
guidance and give creative and productive directions to the lower mind. The
bicameral mind, or the subconscious mind is a terrible master but an excellent
servant. The function of the subconscious mind is to take directions and
orders from the conscious mind and to carry-out tasks that Nature has programmed
into it. If these directions are not given by the conscious mind, then the
sub-consciousness will take its orders from external sources, whether these
sources be subliminally or telepathically given by other human beings or
astral agencies. By letting this occur we allow ourselves to be vulnerable,
manipulated, and controlled. As a result we become dependent upon the authority
figures in the field of religion, politics, education and many others for
our spiritual and secular well-being. This is giving our power, energy and
funds away to others. Metaphysics teaches us how to be a master of life and
not to be mastered by others who are only seeking self-aggrandizement and
self-glory. We can cite one instance in which propaganda in the field of
medicine tells us that a substance or a product is beneficial to our health,
however, in reality offers us no real value whatsoever. We believe in authority
figures for they are supposed to be the "experts."

The mind plays an important role in one's life. With our mind we produce
thoughts that either enslave us to a state of inertia and retrogression or
to a state of mortal freedom and spiritual progression. Occultly, the mind
can either be the slayer of the Real or the liberator from the false. The
former condition causes stagnation in our evolution whereas the latter releases
us from the state of mortality and mediocrity. We are meant to be gods--Holy
Scriptures have emphasized this again and again. This is where our evolution
is heading. By being gods we enter the Kingdom of Heaven--this is where the
gods dwell, however, this should be understood figuratively, for heaven and
hell are not places but certain states of consciousness and awareness.
Transforming ourselves into gods, or being perfect human beings are not mere
idealistic dreams as some people would think. Many have reached this state
and we can read about them in literature--in the so-called myths and legends
of every culture. Only recently, relatively speaking, did knowledge concerning
them spread all over the world in Occult, Theosophical and New Age literature.
More and more people have come to realize the existence of these super-beings
called Masters and Adepts, and our innate potential to attaining similar
states.

One could well be skeptical concerning the existence of the Masters but some
careful thought would prove that these perfect human beings must exist. For
instance, look around us. Do we not sometimes come across someone who is
a little more noble, more pure, more wise, more loving than others? And on
the other side of the coin, do we not also come across persons who are more
vile, lowly, foolish, crude, and uncouth? If some appear more perfect than
others, is it not possible that there are those who are even higher on the
scale of perfection? In our minds it is unthinkable to deny that this is
not so.

What causes one person to be more perfect than another? Certainly it is related
to the evolutionary process but why does Nature's evolutionary processes
cause one person to far outstrip another? It is because some are not awakened
as to their inner potential, or disbelief the truth of their divine being,
and thus will not do anything to unfold it.

Some people live as though they would physically live forever, this can be
seen by the way they accumulate and pile up their earthly treasures without
the awareness that nothing is permanent and that death as a rule is inevitable.
Although it is known, we often forget that everything will be given up at
the time of death and that we take nothing along with us but what we are
and what we have spiritually become.

People are often obsessed with the idea that they can own things or other
people. This is a fallacy that not many individuals are able or willing to
admit and look into. People seek to be rich, to be famous, to be popular,
to be immortalized in history books and in the minds of men . . . and in
such a frantic search or desire the true purpose of life is lost tracked
of. To the writer's mind many of our concerns and preoccupations are irrational
and out of skew or alignment with the evolutionary current. It is heart-breaking
to see one's soul brother in the depth of the mire without their conscious
realization and their rejection of one's offer for assistance. One's hand
may be extended for assistance, but if there is no plea or call for help,
or if the hand is not grasped, then nothing can be done except to standby
and wait--sometimes to wait for many world cycles. The desire to progress
must come from within although seeds may be planted in the prepared soil
and nurtured daily hoping that the seed would sprout and see the light.

When one is ready to make that quantum leap to a higher consciousness, to
accelerate one's evolution, and desire to get better acquainted with one's
essential nature, one would attract the attention of the spiritual guides
of humanity. Some of these beings reside in the higher dimensions instead
of the earth plane, but no matter where they are, the spiritual aspirant
unconsciously sends a signal out to them and they respond by directing the
aspirant to certain individuals, books, metaphysical organizations or schools.
The aspirant is introduced to the basics of the spiritual path. The teachings
that master guides have to impart constitute the direct path of soul-unfoldment.

After evolving from beasthood, humanity is now lingering a little too long
in its present consciousness level, or evolutionary state. The many problems
of humanity may be traced to the stagnation of its present consciousness.
The improvement of humanity and life as a whole is dependent upon the individual.
We should first work upon our own unfoldment if we are to see beneficial
permanent changes occurring in society. Manifesting a utopian civilization
requires the improvement of the quality of human consciousness. This condition
would improve one's genetic quality and metaphysically prevent the entry
or embodiment of lower beings. Why? Because souls of a lower consciousness
would have trouble running a complex physical organism. Metaphysics teaches
the laws of spiritual-eugenics, and manifesting a spiritually-oriented, highly
advanced technological race is one of its goals.

When lower beings no longer have the ability to incarnate in the human race,
then there would no longer be any inharmonious condition on earth. There
would no longer be any conflicts and wars. Love, peace, goodwill, and the
brotherhood of men would be established as a living reality on Earth. This
is not to say that beings of a lower consciousness will not evolve further.
They would but at their own pace and in another planetary platform. This
is essentially their soul choice.